Keenan Hartsten grew up in the state of Oregon. It was there that his connection with the outdoors was established. A childhood spent outdoors hiking, camping, and working on the family ranch provided him the opportunity to appreciate the true beauty of nature. At the age of 14, Keenan began contracting garden jobs around the neighborhood. After a few years, the gardening jobs turned into full garden design with many jobs including water features and elaborate stone walls and patios. With a need to get his hands in the dirt and connect with the earth he gained the knowledge of plants and aesthetic design principles.

After moving to San Diego in 2005, Keenan went on to pursue his education in the Visual Arts department at the University of California, San Diego, where he will graduate in 2010.